The second century of Harvard rowing starts in the Basin this afternoon, as the varsity, J.V., and freshmen eights take on M.I.T. for the mythical championship of the river.

For the first time since 1937, Tom Bolles will not be in the coaches' launch--Harvey Love makes his debut as Crimson coach this afternoon, while the varsity begins its bid for an Olympic berth.

The J.V.'s race the mile and three-quarters upstream course at 4:30 p.m., the varsity at 5 p.m.

Love's crew wil carry two distinct disadvantages to the starting line today. Not only has Tech already raced--beating Boston University Saturday--but the Crimson eight has rowed as a unit just since the middle of this week.

And of this octet, only three were in the 1951 boat: Captain Lou McCagg (stroke), George Gifford (seven), and Phil Dubois (six). Four sophomores occupy the next four seats: Pete Simonds, Dick Higgins, Bill Geertsema, and Monty Goodale. Frank Peal will row bow, and Al Lefkowitz is the cox.

"I expect it to be very close," says Love. "Tech has a far better crew than at this same time last year because it has a veteran stroke."

Love says, though, that his J.V.'s have produced better times than their '51 counterparts.

The J.V. Soating: bow, Bob Webb; 2, Steve Sundquist; 3, Bill Bliss; 4, George Kinnell; 5, Jim Slocum; 6, Tom Hagoort; 7, Tom Peterson; stroke, Reuben Richards; cox, Warren Clark.

Freshman Coach Bill Leavitt's Yardlings will be heavily favored in their 4 p.m. race